Washboiler



April 10, 1928.

T. W. STAFFORD WASHBOILER Filed M1 3. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n '0' o o o April 10, 1928.

T. W. STAFFORD wAsHoILER Filed Nov.23. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z: ms'mffmz Sn'veutoz Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES TERRENCE W.

STAFFORD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

WAsHBoILnR.

Application filed November 23, 1926.

This invention aims to provide novel means for washing clothes through the instrumentality of a circulation of steam-impelled hot water, the device being adjustable to wash boilers of different sizes.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

WVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure l is a. vertical longitudinal section;

Figure 2 is a top plan;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section;

Figure 4 is a fragmental side elevation;

Figure 5 is a fragmental horizontal transverse section.

The device is made of metal throughout, and is in the form of a U-shaped structure, as depicted in Figure 1, the device including an L-shaped section 1, and an L-shaped section 2, the section 1 embodying a hollow base member 3, which is open at the bottom, and the section 2 embodying a hollow base member s which is open at the bottom. Upstanding tubular arms 5 are located at the outer ends of the base members 3 and -l-. The arms 5 are closed at their upper ends by top plates (5 having inwardly foldable handles 7. lVhen the handles 7 are not in use, they may be folded into an out-of-the way position, as shown in Figure 1, and when the handles are turned upwardly, they may be used to lift the washer out of a tub, designated by the numeral 8. The base members 3 and at may be of any desired width. The ends of the side walls of the base members 3 and at are overlapped, respectively, on the arms 5, and the overlapped parts are connected by securing devices 32, such as bolts, the aforesaid securing devices holding the article in the U-shaped part shown in Figure 1, and preventing the arms 5 from swinging with respect to the base members 3 and 4, on hinges 30 which join Serial No. 150,277.

the upper plates of the base members 3 and l with the inner walls of the arms 5.

The outer walls 9 of the tubular arms 5 are curved transversely to conform to the ends of the wash boiler, the receptacle or tub 8. The inner walls 10 of the arms 5 are flat but they slope from their lower to their upper ends, so that, as indicated by the reference numeral 11 in Figure 4, the arms are of tapered form. The arms 5 may taper as much or as little as the manufacturer desires. The taper promotes strength, enhances the upward flow of the water in the arms, and increases the space between the arms. In the inner walls 10 of the arms 5, near to the upper ends of the arms, horizontally elongated water-outlet ports 12 are formed. The device is shown as provided with four of the ports 12; yet there may be as many or as few of these ports as is considered expedient. The upper plates of the base members 3 and 4 have perforations 1 1. The inner end of the base member 3 is telescoped for adjustment into the inner end of the base member i, as indicated at 15. A partition 16 extends across the base member 4 and downwardly from the top thereof, and promotes strength. The partition 16 has any desired number of openings 17 through which the water can circulate. There are elongated slots 18 in the top plate of the base member i, and the sides of the base member 4 have elongated slots 19. Securing devices, such as bolts 20, ar held in the base member 3 but are adjustable in the slots 18. The securing devices 20 may have kerfs 21 to receive a screw-driver, and the nuts 22 on the bolts are located so close to the partition 16 that the partition will preventthe nuts from rotating appreciably, whilst the bolts are being manipulated by a screw-driver. It is neces sary, therefore, to do no more than to turn the bolts with the screw-driver, and the nuts 22 need not be held with the fingers or with a tool. The only operation involved is to loosen the bolts 20 by means of a screwdriver in the kerf 21, slide the sections 1 and 2 in or out, until they fit in the wash boiler 8, and then tighen up the bolts with the screw-driver.

The water finds its way through the clothes, downwardly into the base members 3 and by way of the perforations 14, and thence, if there is heat under the boiler 8,.the

water will rise in the tubular arms 5 and be ejected through the outlet ports 12 on the clothes, water passing downwardly through the perforations 14, to begin the cleansing cycle anew.

The washer is prevented from moving from one side of the boiler to the other, because the outer walls 9 of the tubular arms 5 are curved to fit in the ends of the boiler, the telescoping construction of the base members 3 and 4 permitting the length of the device to be changed, so that the walls 9 of the arms 5 will fitclosely in the ends of the boiler 8, as aforesaid. Owing to the fact that the base portion of the washer is of telescoped construction, it may be made to fit boilers of different sizes, and practically all of the base of a boiler may be covered by the parts 3 and 4. In all odd boiler sizes, between what is known in the trade as a number 8 and a number 10, the boiler bottom etficiency varies from 99% to 90% but gives not less than 90% efficiency in anyoval boiler. Vithout the telescoping center construction shown in the drawings, the efiieiency of a boiler will be cut down considerably. The device forming the subject matter of this application will work on a lower provided, the arms 5 may be folded, upon occasion, to facilitate shipping.

What is claimed is 2- In a device of the class described, a pair of base members, upstanding tubular arms at the outer ends of the base members, hinges connecting the arms with the base members, securing devices connecting the lower ends of the arms with the base members, releasably, to prevent the base members and the arms from having relative movement on the hinges, and a bolt and slot connection between the inner ends of the base members, whereby the base members may be adjusted minutely, with respect to each other, thereby to permit the arms to be disposed closely adjacent to the ends of a boiler.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

TE'RRENCE STAFFORD. 

